BLATANT/FLAGRANT
What is the difference in meaning between "blatant" and "flagrant"?
What part of speech is each?
What is the adverbial form of each word?
Are the words interchangeable?
Use "blatant" and "flagrant" in sentences.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "diffidence".
Use "diffidence" in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations will be posted Sunday.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
GRADE SCHOOL CHALLENGE
A LITTLE TEST
Choose the correct verb in each of the following sentences.
Keep track of your score.
Any score less than 10 is unaccepable.
1. We (did, done) some new work today.
2. The players (began, begun) the game today.
3. We had (came, come) home early.
4. I (did, done) my homework at school today.
5. He (doesn't, don't) come here often.
6. (May, Can) I borrow your coat?
7. We (came, come) here last week for a picnic.
8. I have (began, begun) my lessons today.
9. You (can, may) have my pen.
10. I always (bring, fetch) my lunch to work.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "surreptitious".
Define "surreptitious" and use it in a sentence.
Choose the correct verb in each of the following sentences.
Keep track of your score.
Any score less than 10 is unaccepable.
1. We (did, done) some new work today.
2. The players (began, begun) the game today.
3. We had (came, come) home early.
4. I (did, done) my homework at school today.
5. He (doesn't, don't) come here often.
6. (May, Can) I borrow your coat?
7. We (came, come) here last week for a picnic.
8. I have (began, begun) my lessons today.
9. You (can, may) have my pen.
10. I always (bring, fetch) my lunch to work.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "surreptitious".
Define "surreptitious" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
EASY HUMP DAY OFFERINGS
TROUPE/TROOPS
Explain the difference between the nouns "troupe" and "troop".
Try using the words as verbs also.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "impugn".
Define "impugn" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference between the nouns "troupe" and "troop".
Try using the words as verbs also.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "impugn".
Define "impugn" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
A BIT OF EVERYTHING
HERE WE GO AGAIN...
Correct the error in the sentence below.
"A pair of eagle-eyed cops have nabbed the alleged gunmen believed to be behind a recent robbery downtown."
Trevor Wilhelm, "2 held in holdup, shotgun seized", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, April 8, 2008.
A QUOTE FOR THE AGES
Identify the author of the following:
“A mind without instruction can no more bear fruit than can a field, however fertile, without cultivation.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "perfidious".
Define "perfidious" and use it in a sentence.
Correct the error in the sentence below.
"A pair of eagle-eyed cops have nabbed the alleged gunmen believed to be behind a recent robbery downtown."
Trevor Wilhelm, "2 held in holdup, shotgun seized", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, April 8, 2008.
A QUOTE FOR THE AGES
Identify the author of the following:
“A mind without instruction can no more bear fruit than can a field, however fertile, without cultivation.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "perfidious".
Define "perfidious" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, April 7, 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY
“MICHAEL’S ENGLISH USAGE”
TIDBITS
1. First Post - Friday, April 6, 2007.
2. 307 Posts (There were some vacation days, holidays and Saturdays I did not publish.)
3. 5,797 visitors in 2007.
4. 5,327 visitors (to date) in 2008.
5. 11,124 visitors for the year. (This blog is really esoteric, so I am proud to have had so many visitors. I hope to have many, many more.)
6. 214 new words to date, most of which are descriptive adjectives. (This does not include the dozens of examples of similar, but sometimes confusing, words such as “there”, “their” and “they’re”.)
7. 150 professional writer and newscaster errors cited, many several times. (I really think professional writers should be leaders in correct language usage and should be diligent in their composition endeavours . This applies equally to the editors. )
8. Winner - Canadian Blog Awards - “Best Educational Blog of 2007".
9. 2 newspaper stories (The Windsor Star); 1 radio interview (CBC Morning Show). “Thank you.”
9. Visits from Canada, United States, Unknown, India, United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, Philippines, Germany, Spain, Belarus, Japan, Israel, Serbia and Montenegro.
10. Most often cited error: subject/verb agreement.
11. Most detested word: “got”. “Got” should be removed from the English language.
12. Most trite and misused cliché: “guys”, used mostly by young waiters and waitresses in their attempts to be friendly. (Girls and women are not guys.)
13. Thank you. Fell free to contribute by clicking on “COMMENT” at the end of each posting. I welcome suggestions and criticisms.
14. Don’t send me commercials; I will not publish them.
15. If you would like to advertise on this site, contact me. We could play, “Let’s Make a Deal”.
ATTAIN/OBTAIN
Explan the difference between "attain" and "obtain".
Create sentences that illustrate the meaning of each word.
WORD OF THE DAY
The word for today is "apotheosis".
Define ""apotheosis" and use it in a sentence.
“MICHAEL’S ENGLISH USAGE”
TIDBITS
1. First Post - Friday, April 6, 2007.
2. 307 Posts (There were some vacation days, holidays and Saturdays I did not publish.)
3. 5,797 visitors in 2007.
4. 5,327 visitors (to date) in 2008.
5. 11,124 visitors for the year. (This blog is really esoteric, so I am proud to have had so many visitors. I hope to have many, many more.)
6. 214 new words to date, most of which are descriptive adjectives. (This does not include the dozens of examples of similar, but sometimes confusing, words such as “there”, “their” and “they’re”.)
7. 150 professional writer and newscaster errors cited, many several times. (I really think professional writers should be leaders in correct language usage and should be diligent in their composition endeavours . This applies equally to the editors. )
8. Winner - Canadian Blog Awards - “Best Educational Blog of 2007".
9. 2 newspaper stories (The Windsor Star); 1 radio interview (CBC Morning Show). “Thank you.”
9. Visits from Canada, United States, Unknown, India, United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, Philippines, Germany, Spain, Belarus, Japan, Israel, Serbia and Montenegro.
10. Most often cited error: subject/verb agreement.
11. Most detested word: “got”. “Got” should be removed from the English language.
12. Most trite and misused cliché: “guys”, used mostly by young waiters and waitresses in their attempts to be friendly. (Girls and women are not guys.)
13. Thank you. Fell free to contribute by clicking on “COMMENT” at the end of each posting. I welcome suggestions and criticisms.
14. Don’t send me commercials; I will not publish them.
15. If you would like to advertise on this site, contact me. We could play, “Let’s Make a Deal”.
ATTAIN/OBTAIN
Explan the difference between "attain" and "obtain".
Create sentences that illustrate the meaning of each word.
WORD OF THE DAY
The word for today is "apotheosis".
Define ""apotheosis" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - April 6, 2008
Here are the corrections for last week's postings.
Monday
ALUMNUS/ALUMNI/ALUMNA/ALUMNAE
“Alumnus” refers to a singular male graduate.
“Alumni” is the plural form of "alumni".
“Alumna” refers to a single female graduate.
“Alunmae” is the plural form of "alumna".
“Alumni”is used when referring to a group or body of graduates, either male or female.
Tuesday
SUMMERY/SUMMARY
“Summery” refers to the weather, as in warm and balmy.
“Summary” is a short version of a story.
Wednesday
Correct the errors in the following examples.
"There are a variety of colours to choose from."
“Variety” is a singular collective noun and requires a singular verb.
"There is a variety of colours to choose from."
"An alarming number of them are dropping out [of high school]."
“Number” is a singular collective noun and needs a singular verb.
"An alarming number of them is dropping out [of high school]."
Thursday
Fix the errors in the following sentence.
"Groups or rows or trees could be planted further back from that clear zone, depending of the location of roadside ditches, said county engineer Tom Bateman."
“Further” means in addition to; “farther” should be used.
Spellcheck does not catch using “or” for “of” nor “of” for “or”. Actual proofreading is required.
"Groups or rows of trees could be planted farther back from that clear zone, depending on the location of roadside ditches, said county engineer Tom Bateman."
Friday
INFAMOUS/NOTORIOUS/FAMOUS
“Infamous” means famous in a bad way.
“Notorious” means widely but unfavourably known or publicly or generally known in a negative fashion.
“Famous” means well-known, famed or renowned.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Pugnacious” (adj.) means tough, combative or hard-boiled.
“Incorrigible” (adj.) means disobedient, unruly or impervious to punishment.
“Epitome”(n.) means a summary or standard or typical example. It does not mean “the best of” someone or something. There are four syllables in the word and the emphasis is on the second syllable.
“Acquiesce” (v.) means to assent, comply with, accede to or be in accordance with.
“Acquisitive” (adj.) means eager to possess things or ideas or to acquire and retain ideas or information.
TOMORROW IS IMPORTANT
Drop in to learn why.
Monday
ALUMNUS/ALUMNI/ALUMNA/ALUMNAE
“Alumnus” refers to a singular male graduate.
“Alumni” is the plural form of "alumni".
“Alumna” refers to a single female graduate.
“Alunmae” is the plural form of "alumna".
“Alumni”is used when referring to a group or body of graduates, either male or female.
Tuesday
SUMMERY/SUMMARY
“Summery” refers to the weather, as in warm and balmy.
“Summary” is a short version of a story.
Wednesday
Correct the errors in the following examples.
"There are a variety of colours to choose from."
“Variety” is a singular collective noun and requires a singular verb.
"There is a variety of colours to choose from."
"An alarming number of them are dropping out [of high school]."
“Number” is a singular collective noun and needs a singular verb.
"An alarming number of them is dropping out [of high school]."
Thursday
Fix the errors in the following sentence.
"Groups or rows or trees could be planted further back from that clear zone, depending of the location of roadside ditches, said county engineer Tom Bateman."
“Further” means in addition to; “farther” should be used.
Spellcheck does not catch using “or” for “of” nor “of” for “or”. Actual proofreading is required.
"Groups or rows of trees could be planted farther back from that clear zone, depending on the location of roadside ditches, said county engineer Tom Bateman."
Friday
INFAMOUS/NOTORIOUS/FAMOUS
“Infamous” means famous in a bad way.
“Notorious” means widely but unfavourably known or publicly or generally known in a negative fashion.
“Famous” means well-known, famed or renowned.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Pugnacious” (adj.) means tough, combative or hard-boiled.
“Incorrigible” (adj.) means disobedient, unruly or impervious to punishment.
“Epitome”(n.) means a summary or standard or typical example. It does not mean “the best of” someone or something. There are four syllables in the word and the emphasis is on the second syllable.
“Acquiesce” (v.) means to assent, comply with, accede to or be in accordance with.
“Acquisitive” (adj.) means eager to possess things or ideas or to acquire and retain ideas or information.
TOMORROW IS IMPORTANT
Drop in to learn why.
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